Man Attacks New York Police Officers With Hatchet

The man was shot dead, but not before swinging his weapon and striking one officer in the arm and another in the head. The incident happened in Jamaica Queens around 2 pm today.

The officers, all recent graduates of the Police Academy assigned to the 103rd Precinct in Jamaica, were asked to pose for a picture by a freelance photographer at the intersection of 162nd Street and Jamaica Avenue shortly before 2 p.m. when the man attacked them from behind, Police Commissioner William Bratton said.

The suspect “charged at the officers with a hatchet in his hand,” Bratton said. “Unprovoked and not speaking a word, the male then swung at one of the officers with a hatchet, striking his right arm. After striking that officer, the suspect continuing swinging the hatchet, striking a second officer in the head.”

It wasn’t clear what provoked the attack, Bratton.  Authorities were working to confirm the identity of the assailant, Bratton said. 

The 25-year-old officer, who was struck in the head, is in surgery and his family, which also has members of the NYPD, was keeping vigil at Jamaica Hospital, Bratton said. The 24-year-old officer, who was struck in the arm, was expected to be released from the hospital this evening.